Kamal Ghorui
Months after Ikkis hit theatres and earned critical acclaim, director Sriram Raghavan has addressed the controversy surrounding the film’s disclaimer that called Pakistan “not at all trustworthy.” In a recent interview, the filmmaker admitted that he was not personally happy with the inclusion of the statement.Speaking to The Wire, Raghavan said, “A lot of people have asked me about the disclaimer. So, I have decided not to talk about it. There were some givens for me from A, B, C.”
“There are some decisions not entirely in my control”
Elaborating further, Raghavan hinted that certain creative decisions were beyond his control. Drawing a parallel with his 2015 film Badlapur, he recalled how a music video inserted at the insistence of producer Dinesh Vijan disrupted the film’s tone.“I don’t know whether people who ask me about it have seen another film of mine, Badlapur (2015). There’s a music video in the end, which completely negates what the film is doing. It screwed up the mood of the film! It was inserted at the insistence of my producer (Dinesh Vijan). Ikkis is also made by the same producer. He’s a superb guy; he let me make this film and helped me immensely. But the disclaimer was not something I was happy with personally,” he said.
What the disclaimer stated
The disclaimer at the end of Ikkis reads: “The humane treatment of Pakistani Brigadier K.M. Nisar is an exceptional case. Otherwise, our neighbouring country is not at all trustworthy. Pakistani forces have treated our soldiers and civilians with extreme cruelty and inhumanity, both in war and peacetime. They have blatantly violated the Geneva Conventions by torturing them on numerous occasions. Given the terrorist activities sponsored by Pakistan, as concerned citizens, we need to remain vigilant and prepared.“The film, starring Agastya Nanda, Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Ahlawat’s portrayal of a compassionate Pakistani brigadier was widely praised, making the disclaimer’s tone a talking point online.
Netizens divided over the closing message
Soon after the film’s release, screenshots of the disclaimer went viral. While some viewers felt it undermined the film’s anti-war sentiment, others questioned whether it was mandated by the CBFC or added by the makers.Some also criticised its placement at the end of the film. Another compared it to Schindler’s List having a disclaimer saying Oskar Schindler was an exception. However, a section of viewers defended the inclusion, arguing that it clarified the film’s political stance and prevented audiences from generalising a single character’s actions.
Based on a real war hero
Produced by Maddock Films, Ikkis also features Simar Bhatia, Vivaan Shah and Sikandar Kher in key roles. The film has been co-written by Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas and Pooja Ladha Surti.The story revolves around Arun Khetarpal, portrayed by Agastya Nanda. Khetarpal was just 21 when he was killed in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, becoming the youngest recipient of India’s highest military honour at the time.
